Hoover as President
Mr. Brink
12.3
United States History
President Herbert Hoover
• Relied on “rugged
individualism” and
cooperation rather than
government interference.
• Volunteerism
– Wanted Americans to
voluntarily join forces
• 1930: Signs the SmootHawley Tariff – destroys
global trade.
Associative State
• Partnership
between business
and government
Voluntary Cooperation
1. Cooperatives-designed to help the farmers.
• Hoover was increasingly
unpopular, but he
continued to try...  he
persuaded Congress to
establish the
RECONSTRUCTION
FINANCE CORPORATION
• had power to make
emergency loans to banks
• but it was too little too
late…
• and Hoover wouldn't
involve himself in any
programs of direct gov'tal
aid to individuals -didn't
want to erode Americans
sense of "RUGGED
INDIVIDUALISM"
Movie Clip Questions
Why was Hoover famous/popular before
becoming President? Organized Belgium Relief
What cabinet position did Hoover hold under
Secretary of Commerce
Harding and Coolidge?
How did Hoover hope to solve the Depression?
Volunteerism
He wanted companies to engage in___________
Movie Questions (Cont.)
What was a “Hoover Hotel”? A Shanty House/cardboard
What was a “Hooverville”? A town of Hoover Hotels
What was a “Hoover Flag”? Empty Pockets Turned Out
What was the “Bonus Army”?
World War 1 Veterans who marched on Washington wanting
Money that was promised to them early.
Hoovervilles
• people were frustrated - isolated protest movements
• EX: Dairy farmers frustrated w/low price of milk refuse
to sell (dump it)
• EX: WW1 veterans (pensions discontinued by congress)
march on Washington = BONUS MARCH (by BONUS
ARMY)
• they reached Washington by 1931, set up shantytowns
= HOOVERVILLES (food scraps = HOOVER-MEALS,
hitchhiking journeys = HOOVER RIDES)
• after one year they were forcibly dispersed by the
Army (MacArthur/Eisenhower)
The Bonus March
Hoover’s Fate is Sealed
The Election of 1932
• 1932 ELECTION
• 1 out of 4 was
unemployed…
• nat'l income was
50% of what it
had been in 1929
• Repubs. nominated
Hoover  no hope
• winner by a
landslide =
FRANKLIN
DELANO
ROOSEVELT (Dem
- N.Y. governor)